Filling machine for containers



May 9, 1944- f1. f'vA/ER FILLING MACHINE Foa coNTAINERs Filed Aug. I8, 1941A Fla 5 24 IWI. .,lIwwwmwm.IWM

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Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,348,582 FILLING MACHINE Foa CONTAINERS Jesse E. Weaver, Carnegie, Pa., assignor to Horix Manufacturing Company, Corliss Station, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania This invention relates to improvements in filling machines for containers, and particularly, to valve controlled supply means for directing.; the filling substance laterally of the normal cen-V ter of the container. In my prior Patent No. 2,261,706, of which this application is a continuation in part, I show and describe a normal construction utilizing generally similar mechanism having lling valves or heads operable to u vent the container and ll it from a supplyA source.

As therein stated, it is usually necessary in the filling of certain heavy liquids or semi-liquids, asI

catsup, to exert considerable pressure upon the clogged vent, to avoid splashing and soiling the container, as well as to avoid waste, when venting air is applied after filling. Such conditions persist and are largely overcome by said means, eecting displacement of lodged material prior to lling.

In the filling of containers, such as narrow neck bottles, with a relatively thick viscous substance such as catsup, passing through the annular clearance between the conduit and its valve, when open, the substance tends to spread coniformly around the valve tip, partially or wholly choking the ow of air into the vent orice at the bottom of the tip.

In my present invention such undesired result is avoided by deflecting the valve tip or cone with relation to the supply conduit, thus providing a lateral enlarged clearance for free positive directed flow of the substance.

The construction and its operation are illus-A trated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation, partly in section, showing a container in position at the start of the filling cycle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a filling valve in closed venting position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the valve in deflected open position;

Fig. 4 is an isometric detail view of the valve'.-

stem defiecting spring.A

It will be understood that in the practice of my invention, it is usually utilized in connection-1. with a rotary lling machine, wherein a liquid successively and progressively raised for venting.

and filling, and then lowered, to engage and dis engage the containers with and from the filling' 55 valves or heads. It will be understood also that the invention is not limited to a rotary type filling machine, but may also be utilized with a non-rotatable machine with means for raising and lowering the containers, as in a straight line type.

In the drawing, 4 designates an elevated rotatable tank or supply reservoir for the liquid or the like being dispensed in the filling machine, which machine generally provides a rotatable annular series of filling stations beneath said reservoir.

At each filling station is provided a vertically movablerod IU having a container support or table'II at the upper end thereof. The lower end of each rod I0 is provided with a roller I 3 cooperating with a stationary annular cam track I4 for automatically raising and lowering the container supports in their annular travel, as is customary in machines of the character stated.

At each iilling station, the bottom of the reservoir 4 is provided with an outlet opening in which is mounted a depending filling valve or head including fixed sleeve I5 secured 'in said opening, and having an inner telescoping sleeve I6.

Connected with and depending from said inner sleeve I6 is a reduced diameter filling tube I1, the lower end of which cooperates with a tapered enlargement or valve proper I8 formed on the lower end of a central vent tube I9. Said vent tube extends longitudinally within the sleeves I5 and I6 and filling tube II, and is loosely fixed at 20 to a supporting open side yoke structure 2| at the upper end of sleeve I5, permitting slight deiiection, as in Fig. 3.

An expansion spring 24 extends between a collar abutment I5a of sleeve I5 and a provided collar abutment 25, the latter also serving to connect the lower end of telescoping sleeve I6 to the filling tube I'I. The action of the spring 24 normally seats and closes the lower end of the lling tube II on its seat 23 on the flange of terminal valve I8, as in Fig. 2, preventing a flow of liquid from the reservoir around the filling valve or head until final opening of the iilling tube at its maximum elevation, Fig. 3.

The lower end of the vent tube I9 is open at 21 for continuous venting communication with a bottle or other container.

An annular sealing abutment 28 of rubber or the like is carried by the filling tube I1 for engagement by a container being filled, such as the bottle illustrated, the seal 28 being spaced from and movable upwardly with the terminal end of the lling tube in accordance with the height of the desired iill in the container.

The upward pressure exerted by the container on the seal 28 is transmitted to the telescoping sleeve I6 for raising and opening the filling tube II, as in Figs. 2 and 3.

For the purpose of deecting the vent tube I9 with its valve I8, it is loosely mounted on yoke 2l by upper and lower holding nut 29 and shoulder 3U, such nut being suciently less than tight to allow for'slight movement of the tube I9, that portion 3| thereof which extends through the open side yoke, acting as a pivotal connecting neck.

Such deection of tube i8 and its valve I8 is effected simultaneously with the final elevation of the container and of the lower end of lling tube I'I by action of a leaf spring 32 somewhat loosely secured by its base ange 33 between nut 29 and the yoke. In such position or any rotated the spring is always under suicient tension to constantly press against the upper portion of vtube I9 so that when lling tube I'I is raised as in Fig. 3, the lower end of the tube and valve i8 will be thrust in the opposite direction, providing the olesired lateral ow clearance, as indicated by the arrow. In such operation the tube is in a somewhat pendulum-like position, pivoting at its intermediate loose supported portion 3 l, and in constant communication with the air circulation by exible hose 3S.

It will be understood of course that cam track I4 is so designed as to its active portions as to elevate the container into receiving position of Fig. 3, in connection with other elevating and lowering movements not necessarily herein disclosed, as in my prior patent, supra. Also that any other suitable means may be utilized for deflecting the tube I9, or that other modifications are contemplated within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with the reservoir and delivery conduit of a lling machine and a telescoping extension of said conduit having a terminal valve seat, and resilient means for extending same subject to reversing pressure of a receptive container; an upwardly extending supporting yoke having a central opening, an air vent tube having a neck loosely engaging said opening, a lower extension thereof having a shoulder below the neck 10 and a valve-seat-engaging terminal valve, an upper extension thereof communicating with air circulating means and having a variable pressure clamping nut above the neck, and a leaf spring having a base liangel surrounding the neck between the yoke and said clamping nut for loose mounting of the spring and provided with an upwardly extending portion engaging the upper extension of the air vent tube whereby when the conduit and its terminal valve seat are elevated by a container the air vent tube and its valve are tilted.

2. In a'lling machine as described, thevcombination with the telescoping delivery conduit and its. terminal valve seat, an open side yoke having a centrally open supporting top, an air vent tube havingr an upper extension and a neck loosely extending through the yoke provided with a valveseatfengaging terminal valve, a variable pressure clamping nut on the stem above the yoke, and a leaf spring having a lbase flange surrounding the neck between the yoke and said clamping nutvfor loose mounting of the spring and provided with an upwardly extending terminal portion engaging the upper extension -of the air vent tube whereby when the conduit and its terminal valve seat are elevated by a container the air vent tube and its valve are tilted. f

JESSE E. WEAVER. 

